Our Guamazing Adventure

Not too much excitement in MY day today -- breakfast with some of my favorite girls, followed by lunch with some women from the spouses' club. I was the only person there that didn't have a baby or a baby on the way... talk about being a little out of the loop!! Chris briefed at 4:45 this morning, and got home about 4:00p. He definitely takes the cake for coolness factor in his day. He started doing mission support for his deployment, and offloaded 750,000 pounds of "stuff" from a boat to base in his helo. He had a BLAST!!!! Long day for him, so we are both heading to bed. Julie and Tommy and Mark came over for tacos tonight, and we are looooving having a house again! It's finally coming together!! But, in honor of Chris's big VERTREP day, and first official mission with the good ole United States Navy, a little information for you about his other love: the MH-60S:

Not much excitement today. Actually heading to bed since Chris has a 4:45 brief tomorrow morning -- ew! The job fair was pretty much a bust which was a bummer... turns out waterproof mascara should have been a pre-requesite to attend. Although, if I do decide to work at Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or the Hilton I'm set. Other than that, volleyball was good, we had a great dinner at Top of the Rock (base restaurant) and the house is almost done! YEAH!!! More tomorrow, we're both beat.

Well, we all knew it was coming. I dropped Chris off at the squadron today and saw all of the homecoming signs for the ship that gets in tomorrow. The squadron really goes above and beyond to welcome the detachments home, and I thought all of the pomp and circumstance was so neat... until I remembered that the ship that comes tomorrow is the one on which Chris is leaving. So, of course I had a total breakdown, but to be expected. I keep telling myself that this little transition phase is just like the rainy season in Guam... it might take awhile, but this too shall pass. He found out tonight he leaves next Thursday. The first mission should only be about a week(ish), then he'll come back for a week(ish), and then he's leaving indefinitely. He should be home a couple of times over the course of the detachment, and hopefully I'll get to go visit him at some extravagant ports (aka vacation spots for me), but he'll most likely be out 6-10 months. Certainly nothing to set your watch by! Did I mention I'M NOT READY!?!? Of course he'll miss me horribly, but he is very excited about the mission and I am oh so so sooooo proud of him!! He's very good at what he does, so I have every confidence he will be safe, and enjoy his "time at sea."

I'm still not quite over the fact that we're about ready to go to bed since Chris has to work tomorrow (Monday), and the fam is still sleeping, about to wake up on Sunday. That whole international date line thing is really throwing me for a loop. Good day today -- got up way too early to run the CFC race with my race buddies. Julie usually pushes the stroller with her 2 month old, Tommy, in it and I always run. She's been saying lately how badly she wants to just run ONE race, and I figured between being sick, exhausted, and beat up after yesterday's hash run, today was her day! And she ROCKED!!! I think the adrenaline of being able to run coupled with the fact that she walks more each day than Moses probably did in 4o years, fueled her fire, and she finished 2nd!! So, this is my shout out to Julie Donnelly! I power walked (all about getting the t-shirt for the top 500 finishers), and Tommy and I finished 65th... not too bad!! Went home, got Chris and Mark who was already at our house and headed to Gab-Gab beach to go snorkeling -- unreal!! I had a little bit of a tough time with my mask (and my inability to account for the waves, i.e. swallowing ALOT of water), but it was still fun. Lots of fishies and fabulous coral reefs. Afterwards, we went on a quest for McD's ice cream, and then the three of us went to Mass at the Cathedral, and dinner at some Vietnamese place. Not my favorite-- I think my beef was cat, but the rice was good! Now it's back to our house, where Pat was waiting for us, and the 3 boys are playing rockband and I'm going to bed-- SO TIRED!! I keep hoping that my Bewitched skills will finally kick in to gear and I'll be able to get the rest of the boxes unpacked... clearly big plans for tomorrow!!!

Good day today -- slept in, unpacked more, and then went to the hash run. We first did this a few weeks ago and loved it, and today was no different... just WAY harder! I thought the path was going to be easy when it started on a GOLF COURSE, but no dice. The trail went through a river, had a rope you had to climb up a waterfall, had us crawling through a cave, and some of the most ridiculous saw grass fields I've ever seen. Chris and I both look like we were attacked by a pack of wild cats. I took a picture of my legs, and then decided I probably don't need to post a shot of my scraped up thighs on the internet. In any case, it was ridiculous. The path is marked with patches of flour, so that you know you're "on trail." However, occasionally they intentionally lead you astray so you have to turn back. Today's trail was much longer, so it was pitch black by the time we were done. Chris and I went the wrong way and got pretty lost. In the jungle. At night. At least we were together!!! We finally heard voices, and one of the guys had a flashlight. We had been wading through a river when a false flour patch lead us up a super steep slope. We climbed and climbed, and there were a few times when I thought Chris's squadron was going to have to send a chopper in to save us. Anyway, the guy with the flashlight pointed it our way, and we at that point realized we had somehow climbed A TREE. Swiss family Robinson!! We were laughing so hard, especially once we realized we weren't going to die, and of course there were coolers of cold beer at the end. Way fun. Afterwards, we headed to an English Pub (oh the irony) with a bunch of the "hashers" but being a good designated driver, I had to call it a night for the guys a little early.... I am running the Combined Federal Campaign (charity run) in the morning... in fact Julie is picking me up in 3.5 hours. BEDTIME!!!

Our STUFF is here!!!! Finally! What a difference a day makes :) The movers came bright and early, and I have to say, it was touch and go for awhile. One of them asked me where I wanted him to put a big box of posters, and when I asked him what they were since it was in a different moving company's box, he pulled out a bunch of KISS and Metallica posters... and a bunch of topless ladies (posters that is, not actual girls, but still). I'm not sure who was more shocked -- him or me!!! Clearly NOT our shipment! But, they worked it out and so far I haven't found anything broken. A little overwhelming to have SO many full boxes, but I got the kitchen done, and Chris got home earlier than expected and got most of the living room put together. I'm just so pumped to not be sleeping on the plastic bed tonight... and I will admit- Chris and I just made the bed and we agree, cheesy as it is, we kinda love sharing the body pillow. More tomorrow! Only two pics today -- our doormats.

Our STUFF is getting here tomorrow!!!!!! I am SOOO excited! Finally, dishes, a comforter, real pillows, a trash can... yeah!!! All good things. The movers come early tomorrow morning, but Chris heads in at 7:30 for a 24 hour shift... I am on my own!! But, today was significantly less weird, and things even went well at the DMV. I'm still killing ants in the car, but that's just how that is going to go!
Got up early this morning and took McDonald's hot cakes to my buddy Julie for breakfast. Today was her and her husband's anniversary, and he's off in the desert. He left 6 days after she had their first baby, Tommy, who turned 2 months today, and her favorite meal is McD's hot cakes, so there you have it!! Came home, took Chris to work, and then headed to lunch with a few of the spouses at a cute little gourmet place on the bay -- Proa. It was AWESOME! Check out the pics of Juliette's shrimp linguine, and the banana lumpia was incredible! It was my favorite Guam meal thus far. I had some sort of special fish that I was told looks like a barracuda. Whatever, it was awesome and dead. Then headed back to base to get some goods, then back to the DMV! Pretty painless :) AND then, I had volleyball tonight!! I really like the team, the coach, and of course, playing. It was so fun. You know how competitive I am, so anything that feeds that is always welcome. My new buddy on the team Dawn (who I saw at the half marathon on Sunday), has recruited me for basketball, and there is a big tournament she wants me to go with her to... in mid December... in KOREA!! Fun! I'm in! I am so excited to have a new fun group of buddies. There are only 2 spouses on the team (myself included) as everyone else is Air Force, and do they fit the bill!! Hard core! I love it. More tomorrow, since it will be an early day and I'm spent! But, a quick public service announcement: our great friend, and my former boss, Richard Reed, is running in the Marine Corp Marathon (ew, no thank you) on Sunday, and is raising money for No Greater Sacrifice, a non-profit that raises tuition money for children of "fallen heroes" of the armed services. Pretty awesome charity really!! If you can even only donate $10 I know he'd appreciate it. It's tax deductible, and 100% of the proceeds go to tuition assistance. Here's the website: http://www.nogreatersacrifice.org/Events/MCM08/rreed.php


Make sure you select his name under MCMT runner so he gets "credit." Wooh! That's all for tonight --bedtime in Guam, but happy Wednesday to the other side of the world!!




Giant shrimpies!





Fried bananas with a coconut batter -- what could be better???



I just thought this was funny... the guy had just set this down while I was at the stoplight... at about 7:45a on a Wednesday.



Our city sign... Home of Ace Hardware!!

Today was just one of those weird days. Nothing overwhelmingly weird, just a series of little weird events that collectively made it a weird day. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of those over the next 2 years, 49 weeks and 1 day, but today was the first one, which only added to the weird factor. It started early with dropping Chris off at the squadron, and then I headed for my breakfast of champions – a giant diet coke from McDonald’s. I can’t really explain it, but it’s kind of like eating a dish at someone else’s house that only your mom makes really well. Not bad, just different. So yeah, everywhere on the island, the diet coke tastes well, weird. At least I got my monthly update in news – Bill O’Reilly was playing on the flat screen at McDonald’s… also strange, agreed? And although I have seen 2 Ko’Ko birds since we arrived (which means Joe and Carol can come visit since that is a sign the tree snakes are dying off), there are really no birds in Guam. No birds! No good diet coke. No starbucks, no Target, no Ann Taylor. No change in season. Strange little karaoke and massage parlors all over without windows. Weird food. Abandoned cars, spray painted school buses, little shanty huts, wild boony dogs, and cats, and roosters and pigs, and chickens, and just weirdness. Don’t get me wrong, I love, love, LOVE it here… the waterfalls, the hikes, the beautiful beaches, the ocean, the tropical drinks, the jungle, the people, the Base, the opportunity to travel, the Squadron, the volleyball team, a torrential downpour and then the most incredible sunset you've ever seen, the serenity, the built in family, the cute little churches, the hidden gems all over the island, the fabulous furniture, the fun feel like we're always in some sort of reality adventure show, and the chance to really have to rely on eachother and be totally independent at the same time-- it’s just, well, weird. BUT, much like anything in life, if you want to love Guam, you'll love it, and if you want to hate it, you will hate it... and we do love it!!! But I also really love diet coke :)

Pretty decent day today, although I think my immune system has given up on me. I'm sure yesterday's race didn't help anything! A little sore today, but not too bad! I got the race standings today -- 17th in my age group!! HEY!!!! Pretty psyched about that! Chris had a big flight today, so he was gone all day - just got home a little bit ago. He had an awesome flight simulating SEAL insertion, doing DoD ops in formation using night vision goggles, and simulated capturing a "high value target" and blowing up buildings. I'm so excited that he's so excited, but naturally hearing all that makes me very proud, but JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS!! While the good LTJG was playing war games, I went to lunch with Julie at the golf course, did a 3 mile WALK, and then went to the Andersen AFB Spouses' Club (different than the squadron Spouses' club - that's right, now I'm in TWO of them) Think Pink Bunko night. Since October is breast cancer awareness month, everyone was asked to wear pink. When my friend Jolene said she was wearing a pink wig, I busted out some hot pink leggings. She didn't wear the wig, and I was definitely the new girl with the "1983 called, and they want their outfit back" look. I didn't think any of the 60 women there would notice until they introduced all the newcomers. Up front. Individually. And then took pictures. Ahhh the life of a Navy wife... very fun!



A few pics:


Tea with some of the Squadron spouses yesterday at the Commanding Officer's wife's home (yes, I am wearing pearls and flip flops)




Couldn't quite get a picture of this to turn out, but this was my gift for joining the AFB squadron's club -- a sterling silver charm modeled after the guam flag. Sweet!



And of course, the newcomers to the AAFB spouses' club -- please note everyone else's responsible outfits, and my black skirt, pink leggings and 4 inch pink stilleto sandals. Oops....

It's OVER!!! Finally!! I actually ran the Ko'Ko half marathon today -- 13.2 miles, and oh my GOODNESS do I hurt everywhere!! I can't imagine people turning the corner and doing another 13.. crazy. Clearly a full marathon is not in my near future. BUT, I was pretty proud of my lil half marathon. I ran the whole way, and didn't puke until after we got home. Respectable? I think so! I'd like to believe I wouldn't have been so sick afterwards had I been feeling 100% going into it.... but 45% was all I could come up with. I will say, my cold is full blown angry at me now!! But well worth it. There were over 1000 runners, from all over the "Far East," and my goal was to finish and at least beat one of them. Check and Check!! The first 8 miles weren't too bad, but once the sun came up, it jumped about 20 degrees, and it was already way too hot out!! Chris and Pat drove the course til they found me truckin along at mile 10, and then after blaring a little Heart for me from the car, they met me again at the finish line. I could see them when I turned the corner. It was awesome -- I really was contemplating hitch hiking right before I saw them the first time and it was so fun having them cheering me "home." I am just so glad it's over!!! A few pics from today:

Early morning this morning, with the charity run check in at 5:00a (barf) but it went really well! My goal is always the same: finish high enough to get a t-shirt. Top 700 got shirts today, and I placed 32nd... wooh!! These races are a RIOT. They have an aerobics instructor that warms everyone up before the start, and then at the finish line there are hundreds of orange slices -- totally like half time during a third grade soccer game. My lil lungs are still not 100%, but here's hoping that they will miraculously recover before the 5:00a start time for the half marathon tomorrow! Not gonna lie, I'm kind of freaking out!!! I have to leave the house no later than 3:50a, and they are very strict on no I-pods. That means it's just me and the pavement for 13.2 lonnnnng miles (race course here: http://www.visitguam.org/activities/?pg=gkr2008_about_the_course). Chris reminded me that most likely no one has ever died from a half marathon. Since I already got the t-shirt at check in today, my goal now is just to finish!! I gotta say -- this race is worth doing, if only for the goody bag -- unbelievable. Nice t-shirt, some good coupons, pretty standard. And then, a sweet "waist sack" aka fanny pack, and for the ladies, a Lancome gift bag stock full of makeup. Sweet! Gotta get some sleep, but promise, more tomorrow providing I live!!!!

Another sick day today, but with the help of my trusty friends Tylenol Sinus and Tylenol PM, slept most of the day and feeling much better!! It's becoming more and more "real" that we live here. They put out Chris's nameplate so our door no longer says "vacant," AND Chris's car arrived!!! Wooh wooh! The Guam DMV was about all the adventure I could handle today! Great people watching (including one dude who looked exactly like Hagrid from Harry Potter), but I thought folks might be slightly offended if I started snapping pictures of them. Elections are gearing up here with SO much campaigning for the Senatorial positions (local gov't only)... It's odd not to see any Presidential politics, as Guam doesn't vote for good ole POTUS. I think a lot of the signs look like the ones my mom helped me make for high school student council... Below is one of my favorites. And, in support of Proposition A (casino in Guam) they had a full fledged BAND out today and sign waving. Not the best pic since I was driving, but I try!!

On a different note, every year the different squadrons on base sponsor a "haunted house" in one of the vacant base homes. We went to one tonight with our neighbors and had a blast!! It was surprisingly good... I think we were all pretty shocked!! I definitely screamed like a 4 year old girl. Then we went back to our neighbor's house and played board games for a few hours -- way fun!! I've got another 5k race tomorrow morning (uhhh Julie's picking me up in 4 hours) and then I'm going to try to do the half marathon on Sunday -- we'll see how the lungs hold up tomorrow. Bedtime for now... more later!



Vote for Doug!





Prop A



Perfect night for a haunted house!!


This was taken inside the haunted house in the "clown room." They were blaring little kids music and there were tons of balloons. Once we got in the room, the clowns jumped out. I took this for my brother Tan Tan, who owns a shirt that says "can't sleep, clowns will eat me." He would have been in fetal position in no time.




It's official. We live in Guam. I fully intend to tape up a makeshift "and Tessa" sign tomorrow....

So apparently swimming in stagnant lake water yesterday didn't fare well with my immune system (shocking). Consequently, the only adventure I've had today was trying to find my glasses instead of putting in my contacts. Chris left for work early this morning, and should be back anytime now (here's hoping!!!). Normally in this situation I would pretend I'm not sick and go to the pool to try and "sweat it out", but it's been raining all day (boo). Good news is that prime time tv in the states plays live in Guam -- so with the 17 hour time change to the West Coast, yep that's right, daytime tv ROCKS here!!!!!!! Hoping to feel better tomorrow.... the half marathon is on Sunday and I was supposed to run 9 miles today... Nope!!

Today was MUCH better than yesterday!! I got up early and met a few of the older spouses for a hike down on the beach and to the "Lost Pond." Awesome!! We had to wade waist deep in the ocean for the majority of it, and then fight some serious jungle, but we eventually found it. The Lost Pond is one of two fresh water lakes on Guam... pretty cool! Once we found the lake though, it was seriously something out of a horror film, and I half expected someone to get picked off by some sort of monster. Hence my refusal to even take my tennis shoes off... Not that shoes and a tshirt are a deterent for a lake monster, but I felt a little better about it. There were only 6 of us, so it was really a great chance to get to know everybody. Most of these women are on their second tour to Guam (yikes) and have 2 and 3 kids. One of them was in the Air Force herself until recently, one is working on her masters' degree with 3 kids at home and her husband just got back from deployment on Saturday, and the others are equally as impressive. So nice to meet some fun ladies who have done this before with grace and strength, and they lived!!! I am SO not ready for Chris to leave yet -- that whole stranded on an island phobia, but if they can do it, I'll most likely live too. I just need a JOB!!! Fortunately my masters' classes start soon, so that should keep me busy. Following the hike, I met Chris for lunch, and then headed to the gym. While there, I asked the front desk if they had any volleyball pick up leagues/games/anything/friends for sale/etc. Turns out they were having try outs tonight!!! SWEET!!! AND, I made it!! So excited! They practice every Monday and Wednesday from 6-8p, and they have some serious girls. So fun! And, one of the girls recruited me for basketball following the vball season... nice! The only downside of today was that after a ridiculous hike, my own hour at the gym and 2 hours of vball, I am STARVING! The commissary closed at 8, and we have a slim fast and some stale milk in the fridge, a mini bottle of bacardi in the freezer, and chocolate lucky charms in the cupboard. It's official -- I am a frat boy. Chris has a night flight tonight, so he went in early to get his night vision goggles (oooh NVGs!) and other gear all set up, and won't be home until after 11:00... BUT, good time to blog and call the other side of the world once they wake up... Some pics from the hike below. More tomorrow!!









Lots of critters!



The hikers



The Jungle... I totally felt like Swiss Family Robinson!



Finally... The Lost Pond



Well deserved, albeit scary swim!